Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted exciting momentum within the state’s surging manufacturing sector as Anthro Energy Inc., an advanced materials and battery developer, announced plans to locate a new manufacturing facility in Louisville, investing over $42 million and creating 110 new, full-time quality jobs in addition to 390 construction jobs.
“Kentucky’s manufacturing industry is setting the pace of our historic economic momentum,” said Gov. Beshear. “We continue to see quality companies such as Anthro Energy choose to expand and do business here in the commonwealth and create hundreds of great jobs along the way. Our commitment to creating a business-friendly environment – along with our central location, talented workforce and access to resources – makes Kentucky a prime location for any business. This is an exciting project for the Louisville community, and I am looking forward to Anthro’s future success here in their New Kentucky Home.”
The new manufacturing facility will be the company’s first operation in the commonwealth and will focus on advanced electrolyte production. Anthro Energy has developed a proprietary injectable phase-change electrolyte (IPCE) trademarked as Anthro Proteus, which can be used in a range of battery products tailored to specific industries, such as consumer, micromobility, defense and automotive. The company anticipates production of over 12,000 metric tons of IPCE per year at the new facility. The 110 new Kentucky jobs created by the project will consist of several highly skilled, high-performance positions, including production manufacturing technicians, process and control engineers, facility managers, accounting roles and maintenance and warehouse technicians.
“We’re grateful to have earned the Department of Energy’s approval and are excited to begin scaling production of our advanced electrolytes here in Kentucky, becoming part of a community deeply committed to innovation and world-class manufacturing,” said Joe Papp, chief technology officer of Anthro Energy and a proud Kentucky native. “This facility will stand as the first major U.S.-owned and U.S.-operated advanced electrolyte production site, marking a significant milestone in our effort to build a resilient domestic supply chain for critical battery materials and to deliver the next generation of energy technologies. Bringing this work back to Kentucky means a great deal to me.”
Along with the new facility, the company has plans to support the community by helping build and establish partnerships within Louisville and Jefferson County, supporting workforce, job-education and recruitment efforts through various organizations such as Kentuckiana Works, Jefferson County Technical College, KY FAME, U.S. Army Forts Campbell and Knox, and KY Valor, among others.
Anthro Energy is an advanced materials company that develops a scalable technology that solves the tradeoff between energy density and safety in today’s batteries. The company was founded in 2021 and delivered its first prototype cells to customers that same year. Since then, Anthro Energy has established a production facility in California, obtaining critical battery certifications and shipping its first commercial product. Today, the company remains committed to developing game-changing electrolyte technology that redefines the possibilities of batteries for companies and industries worldwide.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg highlighted the city’s strong manufacturing base: “Anthro’s decision to build its first U.S.-owned electrolyte production facility right here in Louisville once again shows our city is the best place to do business and is the epicenter future-focused manufacturing. This investment adds more than 100 good-paying jobs to our local economy and cements Louisville’s leadership in energy and advanced manufacturing.”
Louisville Economic Development Alliance CEO Trevor Pawl is excited to have the company as part of the community: “This project puts Louisville at the center of two national priorities: energy independence and high-tech manufacturing. Anthro’s investment marks a major step forward in our city’s evolution as a hub for advanced materials and battery supply chain innovation. We’re excited to welcome them to the South End and look forward to supporting their growth in Louisville.”